Characterization of Candidatus Bartonella ancashi: A Novel Human Pathogen Associated with Carrins Disease
Abstract
Bartonella species belong to a group of emerging, yet neglected pathogens. In the past 25 years, over 20 new Bartonella species have been identified. Bartonella species are vector borne pathogens that infect a wide array of mammalian hosts,including humans. Of the Bartonella species, three regularly cause human disease. These species are B. quintana, B. henselae, and most importantly B. bacilliformis. B.bacilliformis causes a biphasic illness, called Carrins disease, which is characterized by an acute phase, Oroya fever, and a chronic phase, verruga peruana. Infections are only seen in the Andes Mountain range of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The chronic phase presents as benign red-purple skin nodules and was the subject of a 2003 clinical treatment trial in Caraz, Ancash, Peru- an area where B. bacilliformis is endemic. During this clinical treatment trial three isolates that were found to be disparate (based on sequencing of a 33 bp region of gltA) from B. bacilliformis were identified.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 12, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1012735
Entities
People
- Kristin E. Mullins
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences